3. Betty
3
BETTY
“ T oday’s the day, huh?” Mrs. Titchmarsh said, coming outside with a glass of iced tea in her hand.
“Yep, I’m heading over to my appointment now. As soon as they know you’re not a match, they release the first of the monthly living allowance and give me proof of funds for Humbledale. I heard it takes around an hour, so as soon as I’m done at the center, I’m going straight over there to enroll. Then I’ll come back here and look at some apartments near campus online and start making appointments to go look at them,” I told her happily.
She took a sip of her tea. “I suppose that means you could be moving within the next few days then.”
I nodded. “I know you said I could stay as long as I needed to get all my ducks in a row, but I’m ready to just leave all this behind me. Not you, of course. You’ve been great.”
“I’ll miss you too,” she replied. “You’re a nice person. I’ll be sure to let your prospective landlord know what a great tenant you’ve been. I won’t mention the trouble as that wasn’t your fault, not one bit.”
“Thank you,” I told her, happy to hear that she genuinely didn’t blame me for any of what happened.
“Alright, now scat. You don’t want to miss your appointment.”
I climbed into my car and waved goodbye as I pulled out of the driveway. I turned on the radio, humming along as one of my favorite songs came on. This was my day, I just knew it. The day where all my dreams would start to come true. I knew just the sort of place I wanted to rent, too. A modest two bedroom apartment in a complex with a playground and maybe even a pool, so any child I fostered could enjoy playing with the other resident children in a safe environment. The next song was even better and as I began to sing along, I was already picturing the barbecue grill and small patio set I wanted to buy for us to enjoy during the warmest months. By the time I pulled into the parking lot of the Scholarship Center, I was picturing myself hanging out at the college cafeteria with my fellow classmates.
A young man came out the door as I approached, giving me a tiny smile as he made a phone call.
“Hi, Mom. I just arranged for my Uber. Everything’s fine.”
He placed a hand over his phone. “Good luck!” he told me and I gave him a nod and went inside.
A Mylos male wearing a rather nice looking suit and tie looked up.
“Hi, I’m Betty Lewis. I have an appointment.”
He smiled broadly and stood. “Welcome! I’m Lechand. Could I offer you a coffee? Or perhaps a tea?”
“A coffee would be lovely, thank you.”
“A flat white, Americano, a latte, or a cappuccino?” he asked.
I blinked. “A latte, please.”
“Would you like vanilla, mocha, or caramel? I’m afraid we’re out of the gingerbread and hazelnut syrups.”
“Vanilla’s good,” I replied.
He opened a drawer in his desk and handed me a tablet. “If you’ll have a seat over there,” he indicated a very comfortable looking sofa and chair grouping, “I’ll bring it right over. And please, help yourself to whatever you want from the side table.”
“Thank you.” A quick look showed me that the two large boxes on the side table held various donuts and other pastries. I picked up a bear claw with one of the paper napkins provided and settled myself into one of the pillowy armchairs. I began answering the questions, and wow, there were a lot. I’d expected them to be as long as those from the better dating sites but these were way beyond that. The first part included an in depth personality quiz. I’d only answered about five of those questions when Lechand returned with my coffee.
“Thank you,” I murmured once more.
I kept answering question after question, and it didn’t take me long to realize that the hour estimate’s time was probably entirely filled with answering this questionnaire. I had to stop to take a potty break and Lechand offered me a second coffee. I accepted a caramel latte this time and took a glazed ring doughnut to go with it. At long last I finished answering everything, feeling like I’d bared my soul. I took the now cold final sip of my coffee and picked up my napkins to throw them away before taking the mug and tablet back to the desk.
Lechand smiled at me. “All done?” he asked, standing to take the mug from me, which he placed inside what looked like a dishwasher drawer under the counter holding the coffee maker and electric kettle before returning.
“Yes.”
“No problems? You managed to answer everything okay?’
I chuckled. “Some of the things you guys asked made me have to think, but yeah, I got there in the end.”
“Excellent!” He reached into another drawer, pulling out a sealed swab. “I just need to take a DNA sample and let Xeranos read it while he finishes analyzing the replies you’ve given.” He took the tablet from me, pressed the button to turn it off, and placed it back inside the drawer he’d taken it from. “If you’ll just open your mouth, I’ll take a cheek swab.” He uncapped the tube holding the swab and took it out. “Perfect!” He continued on cheerily as he collected the saliva sample and placed it back inside the tube. He walked back over to the coffee area and opened another drawer beside the first one, placing the swab inside. “Okay, Xero, have at it as they say.”
“Processing,” came a male disembodied voice.
“That’s your AI, isn’t it?” I asked him, glancing around as if I could spot him.
“It is indeed.
“I read he’s fully sentient.”
“That is correct,” Xeranos replied. “But don’t worry. I only ever use my powers for good.”
I laughed nervously. “That’s alright then.”
“It’ll be a few minutes at most for him to complete -” Lechand started to explain when bells began to ring.
“Congratulations!” Xeranos cried out, sounding way too happy.
Lechand looked as shocked as I felt.
“This location has never had a match before,” he told me. “You’re the first!”
I stared at him in incomprehension. Had they both just said… No. No way.
Lechand smiled at me. “What a happy surprise!” he continued. “Your mate has also been alerted and will be arriving shortly. He tapped at a device around his wrist. “Oh! You’re matched to Dr. Proslo, our chief medical officer. He’ll have to take a shuttle down, so I’m afraid you’ll have to bear my company for another hour or so.”
I shook my head in denial. “I can’t. I have to go feed my cat and, and let my landlady know things have changed and…” I made a dash for the front door but it didn’t budge.
“I’m afraid protocol locks all exits once a match occurs until their mate arrives,” Xeranos informed me.
“But that’s kidnapping!” I shouted.
“It’s for your own safety. Early on, one of our brides was seriously injured after panicking and running into a nearby busy road.” Lechand’s tone was gentle and he looked at me with concern. “I’m afraid your phone signal will likewise be blocked, as another previous incident saw a friend contacting Humans First and they attacked the center even though the bride and her mate had already gone.”
“You can’t do this,” I insisted. “You can’t force me to marry some guy I’ve never met.”
Lechand ‘s expression turned to one of dismay.
“You did understand that by applying and completing the match screening process, which you gave a thumbprint to indicate you were in agreement with by way of the first question, that if you were matched, you automatically became legally married?”
I licked my lips. It had said that, yes, and I had ticked the I understand and agree box and added my thumbprint. It had also been clear when I booked my appointment slot online and ticked yes to agreeing to those terms and provided them with a digital signature.
“One in a billion,” I whispered. “The odds were at least one in a billion.”
“And you’re that one! Trust me, toots, you’ve won the lottery,” Xeranos chirped cheerily.
I sank down to the floor and began counting my breaths.
“Perfect match, right?” I laughed weakly.
Lechand smiled at me approvingly. “Guaranteed,” he nodded, coming around the desk to offer me his hand to help pull me up. I took it, wincing as I stood. Getting down onto the floor had felt easy at the time. Getting up? Not so much, my body protesting in a way that reminded me that I was fast approaching the big four oh. “He’s really your chief medical officer?”
“He is. You’re quite lucky. He’ll be the one overseeing your education.”
“And if I don’t want him to? Can another doctor do it?”
“I suppose so.” He gave me a puzzled look.
“Good. I, ah, wouldn’t want any other students or anybody else thinking I was getting preferential treatment.”
“I see. Well, I’m sure after the two of you talk things through about it, following the completion of your mating and your human wedding ceremony and honeymoon, you’ll find what will work best.”
“I’d planned to apply to become a foster parent,” I blurted out.
His face brightened. “That’s wonderful! The process will be much easier now that you’re a Mylos.”
“Do you think he’ll mind? Maybe he’d rather just have a biological child.”
“I think it highly likely that he’d love to do both, but you’ll have to speak with him and discuss it. I’m afraid I only know him by reputation.”
“I can’t go up without Pumpkin,” I told him, changing the subject.
“He’ll arrive with a few males who will go pack your things up. You can both accompany them and retrieve your pet, assuming that’s the name of your cat.”
I nodded vigorously.
“Tell you what. You sit back over there and get comfortable and I’ll make you a calming cup of tea. You can drink it while watching the orientation vid Commander Gundar’s mate had made. It’ll tell you all about the community you’ll find yourself in.”
I let him guide me over to the sofa and the wall behind the stuffed chairs changed to become a screen. This was good, I decided. It wasn’t what I expected, but given my luck or rather lack thereof, I should have expected it, really. And finding out in advance about the place I was going wasn’t a bad idea. Preparation and all that. He left and returned moments later with a cup of what tasted like chamomile tea. I took a sip and let the warmth seep into my bones.